Pneumatic grain-elevator and transfer apparatus



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. SMITH.

PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR AND TRANSFER APPARATUS.

Smiik v VE/VTOI? By Afforney Patented July 28. 1885.

W T/l/ E 8 SE 8 N, PETERS. Pholo-Lithognphlr. Waihingkm. n c,

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

4 L. SMITH. PNEUMATIG GRAIN ELEVATOR AND TRANSFER APPARATUS. No. 323,226. Patented July 28, 1885,

We EW lzymagi WITNESS/58 llVVE/VTOF. W x/yd% By Azzorney N. PETERS. PhMO'LiIhDKI'JFhIL Walhinglnn, D. C.

(NOModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. SMITH. PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR AND TRANSFER APPARATUS.

No. 323,226 Patented July 28, 188 5.

N PETERS. Phoko-Limngraphar, Withillglnn. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 4.

L. SMITH.

PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR AND TRANSFER APPARATUS.

*No. 323,226. Patented-July 28, 1885.

WITNESSES l/VVE/VT 4 Z mat/'1, 202 2%. igfm 5,,

N PETERS. PhMo-Lilho rapher. Wilhinglon. D. r;

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

L. SMITH. PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR AND TRANSFER APPARATUS. No. 323,226. Patented July 28, 1885 Nrra STATE WATENT Enron.

LYMAN SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,226, dated July 28, 1885.

Application filed June 20, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN SMITH, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Grain-Elevators and Transfer Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class known as pneumatic grain-conveyers, the object of which is to transfer grain or other material in bulk from one place to another or to load or unload a cargo from one vessel to another,which is now done by shoveling, by steam, or otherwise, except by that hereinafter described. By my present method I propose to transfer a cargo of grain, weigh it while being unloaded, and then weigh it before deliver-yin a very short space of time. I do not only do this, but I transfer it from one ship to another at any convenient place or deck about the harbor. \Vhen grain is carried in large quantities, it frequently happens that it becomes heated to an extent that greatly damages its value, and when in this condition the handling becomes very expensive, as much as from one to three centsper bushel extra; but with my process the grain is not only transferred, but actually cooled in its transit by passing through the air in the tubes and in the vacuum, which is always cool. Thus it will be seen that the grain is not only rapidly transferred, but is actually cured in its transition and delivered in much better condition than when received.

The present invention is an improvement on patents granted to L. La Rue Smith, bearing number 268,303, November 28, 1882, and to myself, June 5, 1883, No. 279,034, No. 289,316, November 27,1883, and No. 305,97 6, September 30, 1884, the latter being for a system particularly adapted to railroads, canals, and the like; but my present invention is more particularly adapted to shipping and marine purposes generally. To this end it consists in the adaptation of a system which embraces, in

' juxtaposition of the pneumatic grain-transfer (No model apparatus, the scales, the motive power, and the vessel or receptacle, combined and arranged to economize space, to facilitate the motion of transfer, and to provide storage-room, all the parts taken singly being substantially the same as those heretofore patented to me, except the barge or transfer-ship, the arrangement of which with my apparatus enters largely into my present system.

Referring to the drawings hereto annexed, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an illustration of my pneumatic graintransfer ship, being in perspective, clearly showing two of my apparatuses mounted upon suitable frame-work, and centrally one of my continuous-operating grain-transfers, connected together by the air-tube, which of course may work together or separately, as may be desired. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. showing four of the pneumatic apparatus and one continuously-working apparatus, as well astheblowersandniotive-powerengine. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of abarge, showing the entire working apparatus and two end compartments for grain, which are calculated to hold a small shipload of grain and with case a canal-boat load. These compartments are also designed to hold surpluses left from one ship to another should their differences in size be such that there may be surpluses left from either. Fig. 4 shows an end elevation of the barge with the apparatus thereon; and Fig. 5, an enlarged top plan view of the working machinery arranged in the barge below the decks, the figure being taken on a horizontal plane through the vessel.

It is evident that the large vessel may be made of any size or dimensions; but I have calculated two hundred feet long, fifty wide, and depth of hold twenty-five feet would, at present, suit mypurpose. For. the barge I have calculated it to he, say, eighty-five feet long, thirty-five wide, depth of hull eight feet, which would give storage-room at each end thereof of twenty-four by thirty-four, which would be capable of holding ten thousand bushels of grain, the larger vessel to be used for storage when not in use for transferring grain, and preferably to be built of iron.

Heretofore great difficulty has been experienced in packing grain in thehulls of vessels to prevent sliding, and much of it has to be culated to hold one hundred thousand bushels. The compartment is preferably arranged in the middle. This vessel is not only calculated for transferring grain, but also for storage, similar to that of an elevator, when such use is essential.

In my arrangement of the working machinery I prefer to arrange the grain-compartment in the middle. The boilers and engine for propelling the vessel are in the stern, and the blower-engine and blowers in the bow. By this arrangement the vessel is as nearly balanced as possible. Of course when the vessel is not loaded the proper amount of ballast is used, water or otherwise. The boilers may be of the twin character, and as many of them may be used as is necessary to supply the required quantity of power for one or all of the engines. Upon the deck of the ship I arrange two or more exhausting or forcing apparatuses, B I3; but in this case four are shown. (See Fig. 2.) The tanks or reservoirs are made capable of containing two thousand bushels each, and are provided with funnel-shaped bottoms for the ready discharge of the grain. (See Fig. 4.) These tanks or reservoirs are mounted upon hydraulic scales C, so that when they are full and the grain weighed the engine is reversed. Then the grain is blown out into an adjoining vessel, elevator, or into its own hull, to be conveyed somewhere else in the harbor to be unloaded. Each apparatus, tank, or reservoir B is provided with two grain-receiving pipes, D D, on each of its sides, although only one set is used at a time, the object being to adapt the vessel or barge to run along either side of another vessel to be loaded or unloaded, and the object of having two suction grain-pipes from each side of the tank is to equally unload the vessel, thus preventing tilting. The pipes or hose that enter the hull of the vessel are of a flexible nature, so that they can be carried from one point to another within the v esse1,whereby it can be unloaded equally from all points. These grain-pipes D run through the bottom of the tank up inside to near its top 011 an inclination toward the upper center. They are beveled at their months, so that when the grain falls out it descends directly downward. Above the mouth of the pipe D, I arrange a deflector, F, so that the grain is prevented from being carried off by the suction -pipe G. The grain -pipes and tanks are each provided with valves 00 and b,'

whereby they can be controlled at will. It is evident that any number of the tanks'or reservoirs B may be used by'shutting off the blast by means of the valves b. the large vessel I also erect what I term a continuous loading and unloading apparatus, H. This is much smaller than the other tanks, and is only designed to form a vacuum-chamber. If this form of tank is preferred, there is no reversal of the engine required, as the machine loads and unloads itself automatically, or, in fact, it is a continued stream until the entire load is exhausted.

WVhen it is desired to adapt this invention to ocean steamers or other ships carrying steam as a permanent fixture to the equip ment of the vessel, it maybe so arranged to occupy very little space, but in such location as to readily load coal or other granulated material; also, to unload or discharge ashes from the fireroom, or for other purposes,such as ventilation for instance, as sucking out foul air from the hulls of vessels, supplying fresh air to the same. For all such purposes this invention is peculiarly adapted. Thus it will be seen that ships may discharge their own cargoes independently,which, they being able to do, very frequently saves them many days delay in ports when it is essential that they should be under way.

The discharge-orifice at the bottom of the tank is provided with valves, sothat when the grain is ready to'be discharged to either side of the barge the valve at that particular side is opened; andin conjunction with these valves and the discharge-pipe I arrange one or more air-pipes for forcing the grain from said discharge-orifice. This pipe or pipes extend from above the surface of the grain when the tank is filled, and down through the grain to the exit-orifice, so that when the grain is to be discharged the air-pressure passes down this pipe and forces the grain in either direction desired from the bottom of the tank.

Having reference to Fig. 3, I is the boiler, provided with the usual breeching and smokestack, and J the engine. K is the cross-pipe leading from the blowers. L is a pipe leading from the cross-pipe below to the tank. M M are the blowers, suitably connected to the pipes. I preferably work double engines,for the reason that they are more easily reversed than a single one. A iiy-wheel may be used, if found necessary. The crankshaft N is of a compound character and is arranged to be coupled to the shafts of the blowers, all of which will be of the usual character of the Baker blower. O is the fuel -bin or coalbunk.

The usual appliances-such as safety-valve gages, blow-offs, pumps,and the like--may be supplied, and may be of any approved kind. These features are not shown, they not forming any part of my invention,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A system for transferring or conveying grain, consisting of a grain-receiver or tank Centrally on 7o IOO provided with inlet and outlet orifices, a blower having connecting pipes with said tanks, a motive-power engine connected to said blowers, and pipes arranged within the tank extending above the grain and into the discharging-orifice for forcing the grain from said orifice, the whole being adapted to be arranged on a barge or vessel, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for transferring grain, which consists of a tank provided with supply and exhaust pipes, a blower, and motive power for operating said blower, and a dischargepipe arranged with valves whereby to exhaust from either side of said tank, and an air-forcing pipe which leads from the upper space of said tank to the discharge-orifice, substantially as set forth.

8. A system for transferring or conveying grain from ships, boats,or the like, consisting of a barge or vessel having prearranged cornpartments, substantially as described, the motive power of which being contained in one compartment, while the remaining compartments are arranged for the reception of the grain, the air-pipes, and the tank, the latter being arranged to receive grain from one vessel, weigh it, and discharge it into another from the opposite side of the said tank through different pipes, substantially as set forth.

4. In a system for transferring grain from vessels, two or more tanks above deck, one or more blowers below deck,and their operating mechanism, in combination with an airconnecting pipe arranged at right angles or thereabout and connecting said blowers and tanks, the pipes being provided with controlling-valves, substantially as set forth.

5. A system for transferring or conveying grain or other material from one vessel, car, or other receptacle to another, consisting of the barge or vessel, the blowers, and the receiving and discharging tanks, being arranged to receive and discharge from either side, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LYMAN. SMITH.

Witnesses:

B. F. MoRsELL, O. E. DUFFY. 

